Kurdish change towards libertarian Ideas. The Democratic Confederalism

In July 2006, died Murray Bookchin. Between the messages sent in memory of this important theoretical libertarian was one that could surprise those who had only a superficial knowledge of the Kurdish cause and struggle against imperialism.

The PKK expressed at the death of Bookchin its recognition as one of "the greatest social scientists of the twentieth century," the PKK recognized the contribution that his ideas had made to the development of socialist theory and expressed  that "His Theses on the state, power and hierarchy will be implemented and developed through our struggle", and following these ideas the PKK promised to implement the democratic confederalism.

What happened in order that from early writings quoting Stalin, Lenin or Mao now the emphasis is put on the libertarian Murray Bookchin?

Kurdish change towards libertarian Ideas
The Workers' Party of Kurdistan PKK was constituted in 1978 in the turkish kurdistan [kurd is a people divided in four nations: Turkey, Iran, Irak an Siria]. This political organization emerged with very clear ideas: establishing an independent socialist Kurdish State. The PKK in its early documents reflected this ideology. In its manifesto the PKK was defined as "a political organization under the guidance of scientific socialism" and, even critical with considered opportunists and revisionists policies of the USSR at that time, the PKK was in favor of socialist and national liberation struggle under the auspices of the Soviet Union.

The development of both, the fighting that PKK undertake, and changes in international geopolitics, affect deeply the program and structure of the Kurdish party. Unlike other political movements the PKK is able to make a critical reading of reality. The party is able to analyze the events surrounding the Soviet system and the ideas of socialism and national liberation movements.

In this sense the 1995 Party Congress exemplified for the first time in a more obvious way the changes that have taken place. The resolution of this Congress and qualifies the period dominated by Soviet influence as a phase of "primitive and brutal socialism" and calls for a new period in the socialist struggle. Not only this, but the abandonment of the hammer and sickle of the flag, or replacement of the "Central Committee" with "Party Assambly", will evidence this evolution in the conception of Kurdish liberation movement socialism.

The biggest changes come in the late 90s, the process of ideological evolution of the party continues above all from the hand of its leader, Abdullah Öcalan, and his arrest in 1999 marked a turning point in the history of the Kurdish liberation movement.

The new situation of Öcalan will be used by the Kurdish leader as a space for negotiation with the Turkish state and in turn to be a booster for the new ideas that were taking place in the PKK and which Öcalan was working. Documents in defense that PKK leader written was two documents about historical and political analysis that start developing the new paradigms for Kurdish liberation movement.

But still took a few years until the new theoretical framework was fully developed and matured by Abdullah Öcalan. Between 1999 and 2004, in which are consolidated the new ideas and the new structure of the Kurdish liberation movement, there was a fundamental element that will allow precisely the new paradigm of the Kurdish movement develops as we now know it.

In 2002 Öcalan begun study the work of Bookchin, finding in it a great inspiration and recommending reading for militants and Kurdish politicians.

In 2004 Öcalan is clear about his affinity to the ideas developed by Bookchin in his work . Only a year after the new ideology of the Kurdish liberation movement is mature and officially launched in parallel to the organizational restructuring of the movement.

On March 20, 2005 is announced the formation of the Koma Komalen Kurdistan (which was later renamed as Koma Civakên Kurdistan - Kurdistan Communities Union) and democratic confederalism is defined as the ideology of the new organization and the model to liberation of the Kurdish and the Middle East peoples .

The Democratic Confederalism
The Democratic Confederalism is already a complete system that concludes this process of change and impasse in which both, the ideology and the structure of the PKK, appeared to be and begins a new period marked by these new paradigms.

The democratic confederalism does not interpret the right to self-determination and the right to establish a Kurdish nation-state, because considers that it would only "replace old with new chains". In opposition it is presented a model of self-government that is built on "self-management local communities and organized in open councils [...]. The citizens themselves are the actors of a government of this sort, not the state authorities"so express Öcalan.

As an integral vision of liberation society, democratic confederalism has a strong anti-capitalist character. In his objection to the capitalist economy propose an economic system based on "ecological and economic communes", basis for the creation of an economic system that obeys to meet the fundamental needs of society and not for profit, and which is capable of protecting the environment. The importance of creating an ecological society is another pillar of democratic confederalism and is a clear example of imprinting that Bookchin has had on this.

Finally, about those pillars to point we have to speak of the women liberation. Women self-organization within the movement is a fundamental element and the fight against patriarchy is a fundamental part of the Kurdish revolutionaries program. As Öcalan says, "without the free woman can not be a free Kurdistan".

In the four parts of Kurdistan the Kurdish liberation movement is struggling to build a free society. Northern Kurdistan and Rojava are the clearest examples where despite the massive repression and war, democratic confederalism is running.

The Kurdish revolutionary movement along with his brothers peoples are giving a lesson to the world. Democratic modernity against capitalist modernity, against the history of occupation, colonialism and invasion, the Kurds are building a democratic, egalitarian and free society.

Source: http://www.cnt.es/noticias/rojava-una-lucha-con-sustrato-libertario,
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